The United States Constitution

• The Constitution of the United States sets forth certain rules that must be adhered to by the criminal justice system of each state. The Bill of Rights includes the freedom from unreasonable search and seizure and the right to a speedy trial, among other freedoms.
  
  

Criminal Laws

• State criminal laws determine the actions for which a person can be prosecuted, including such crimes as murder, arson and battery, and also states the degree of seriousness of the crime and whether it is considered a misdemeanor or a felony.
  
  

Considerations

• Judges are limited to certain sentencing guidelines. These guidelines are developed by legislative panels from the state legislature and determine the minimum and maximum sentences defendants can be given.
  
  

History

• Many of the laws of the United Stated derive from British Common Law. Criminal laws are amended and changed often.